Lizz Wright is considered a soul singer but that’s not what you get on the remarkable Shadow. Instead we have a superb voice and some top notch backing that fall into many styles including blues and folk but mainly heartfelt. Shadow is a diverse collection of songs that includes Gillian Welch’s ‘I Made a Lover’s Prayer’ and a beautiful rendition of Cole Porter’s ‘I Concentrate on You’, and these are not even the standouts. Her own ‘Sparrow’ with backing by Angelique Kidjo is spectacular, with the latter’s harder edged voice contrasting with Wright’s emotional but never indulgent style.
Wright has paid her dues for 20 years yet this sounds like an unusually honest and collection of songs, almost a case of putting the heart before the money, and as a result you can’t help but be drawn into them. The production is top notch, I have few vocal recordings that sound as open and real and this combined with effortless musicianship makes for inspiring listening. Especially with Candi Statton’s blues style ‘Sweet Feeling’ and Sandy Denny’s ‘Who Knows where the Time Goes’. This is an artist whose face may not fit her style but that makes her all the more impressive.
Jason Kennedy